Yang Chun couldn't help but admire Guo Xiaopeng's brilliant strategy. It was no wonder that the Yang brothers, once feared in Haizhou, had fallen to him. After completing his preparations, Yang Chun pulled up his pants and began observing the death row cell. He saw Liu Mei staring blankly at the mesh ceiling.
His chance had come. Quickly wrapping the syringe in cotton gauze, he retrieved a note from his pocket, wrapped it around the gauze, and threw it towards Liu Mei's cell. The bundle rolled along the mesh layer before dropping down. Liu Mei, startled, quickly picked it up, read the note, and her expression turned to one of excitement. She glanced up briefly and then swiftly pulled down her pants, exposing her pale white buttocks.
The nights in the detention center were the hardest to endure. During the day, the inmates could at least see the blue sky, white clouds, green trees, and birds, and hear the outside world's noise. But at night, they felt like rats thrown into a sewer, oppressed and silent, with no sign of life.
Yet the night lights here were particularly bright, with a ghastly white glow. At this time, a guard led by Jia Sidong patrolled the upper level of the death row cells.
Liu Mei glanced anxiously at the mesh above, seeing the patrolling guards approach. She quickly lowered her head, pretending to sleep.
The first guard passed by, and Jia Sidong walked slowly behind. Suddenly, a white bundle flew through the air, rolling along the mesh ceiling of the death row cell. Jia Sidong noticed it and quickly stepped forward. Yang Chun hadn't anticipated the guards' sudden appearance when he threw the bundle, and now both he and Liu Mei watched Jia Sidong tensely.
Jia Sidong kicked the bundle, and it fell beside Liu Mei. Both Yang Chun and Liu Mei exhaled in relief.
Jia Sidong glared up at the upper floor, muttering something under his breath before catching up with the other guard. Inside the death row cell, Liu Mei leaned against the wall, dry heaving. After calming her breathing, she showed a happy expression. She had experienced intense reactions since yesterday, vomiting constantly, a clear sign that her goal had been achieved.
At that moment, a middle-aged female guard opened the door and brought in lunch.
Liu Mei straightened up and smiled at her, "Please inform your superiors that I need to see my lawyer."
The guard looked puzzled, "The trial is over, and your sentence will be announced in a few days. Why do you need a lawyer?"
Liu Mei replied seriously, "I have very important information to disclose."
Reluctantly, the guard agreed, "Alright."
At 3:30 p.m., Liu Mei, shackled at the wrists and ankles, entered the lawyer's meeting room. Han Lifang immediately stood up and invited her to sit.
Liu Mei smiled brightly and sat down lightly.
Han Lifang cautiously asked, "What can I do for you, Ms. Liu?"
Seeing Han Lifang's respectful demeanor, Liu Mei felt a sense of pride. Finally able to escape her dire fate, she felt a sense of relief for the first time in days. She said solemnly, "Please notify the court immediately that I am pregnant."
Han Lifang looked as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes wide in disbelief, "That's impossible. Are you joking, Ms. Liu?"
Liu Mei, abandoning her usual elegance, replied viciously, "Han Lifang, you've been Haizhou Pharmaceuticals' lawyer for years. You should know my character. When have I ever joked?"
Han Lifang patiently explained, "Pregnant women cannot be sentenced to death. But this isn't something that can be faked. A medical examination will reveal the truth."
"That's exactly what I want—a medical examination," she said, standing up. "Please notify the relevant authorities immediately."
Zhang Xiaohua stared in shock at Li Xinjian and Qiang Min, "How is this possible?"
Qiang Min sneered, "I think it's her last-ditch effort."
Li Xinjian, however, looked worried, "According to the detention center staff, Liu Mei is calm and coherent, not making baseless claims."
Zhang Xiaohua frowned, pacing the office. He stopped by his desk, tapping it heavily, "We must take this seriously."
Li Xinjian suggested, "Should we take her to the police hospital for an examination?"
"Yes, that's the only option," Zhang Xiaohua agreed, "Once we have the results, we can decide on the next steps. Make it quick."
At the police hospital, the examination was completed swiftly. Li Xinjian and Qiang Min entered the obstetrics and gynecology chief physician's office. The chief handed Liu Mei's medical report to Li Xinjian, saying softly, "She is indeed pregnant, about a month along."
Qiang Min's eyes widened, "There must be a mistake!"
The chief physician responded firmly, "Absolutely not. If there's a mistake, I'll take full legal responsibility."